Chapter 779: Two Contracts

Amid the uneasy discussions filling the hall, some about "divine authority's ambition refusing to die" and others about "Jade City facing catastrophe," Thales had no choice but to order the etiquette officers to restore order and silence once more.

"I know!"

Deputy Chief Priest Fable steadied his breathing and spoke calmly.

"I know my proposal may be misunderstood, even smeared by people with intentions as the temple fighting for power, or even as rebellion and disorder, even though the age of religious persecution and conflict passed a hundred years ago!"

He looked at Federico with complicated feelings.

"I also know that by proposing this covenant, I have violated certain taboos. Just as this Young Master Cavendill, who has other intentions, said, it may stir controversy in Renaissance Palace, shake court and country, make things difficult for His Highness, perhaps even chill the king's heart and make many people dissatisfied..."

Federico answered with a cold smile.

"But everyone!"

The old priest turned back toward the listeners, heartbroken.

"When our lives here are trampled, ignored, and regarded as worthless grass, has that ever stirred controversy? Has it ever shaken court and country? Has it ever made them feel difficulty, chilled their hearts, or caused the people with power over our fate to feel even half a trace of compassion?"

The audience at the meeting was slightly moved and began whispering.

Federico sneered and spoke:

"So are you accusing His Majesty of not being tolerant enough, or holding His Highness responsible for not doing his utmost?"

But this time, before the audience could change expression and fall silent, Fable abruptly turned around and spoke decisively:

"I do not know!"

Under Federico's slightly surprised gaze, the deputy chief priest quickly walked to the center of the hall.

"Like most citizens, I am only an ordinary person. I serve the Sunset and am old and fading. As for so-called political inside stories, royal succession, ducal ownership... I know only a little and do not care much!"

The old priest spoke with deep pain.

"Yet no matter who wins or loses, who is strong or weak, whether royal power is righteous or the iris has reason, whether the duke is restored or the prince triumphs... Jade City has already become this terrible, even using assassination, arson, ruined public order, and blocked trade to pry open the political situation. Have we not had enough?

"Have we not had enough of there always being people behind palace curtains, endless conspiracies and schemes, every time paid for with our property and lives, every time adding disasters and bitter consequences to Jade City and the South Bank Territory?

"And this is not even the first time! Leaving aside the Bloody Years, does everyone still remember the iris civil strife from more than ten years ago?"

The deputy chief priest's last sentence made every local person's face change slightly.

"The duke died and the viscount became a prisoner, the palace was placed under martial law and soldiers blocked roads, all industries stopped work and markets closed, Jade City split and fought internally, attacks and frame-ups came one after another, subordinates of both sides clashed repeatedly, common people on the streets feared for themselves, and even, even a person of noble blood tried to gather troops in Gonghai City and start an uprising..."

He spoke extremely quickly yet clearly, with sincere feeling. Many listeners remembered the past, felt moved, and showed sorrow on their faces.

"And the aftermath of that great chaos has now surged back like a reversed tide. Do we still wish to experience the blood and disorder of the past again?"

Thales could not help frowning, remembering all the clues he had found in this "old-case arbitration," from each dead person's connection with the old case to the late judge's suicide note.

"So you still remember, sir. You still remember what my father and I experienced."

Federico listened to his teacher's description with a subtle expression and cold eyes.

"I thought you, like everyone else, had forgotten long ago."

The old priest shook when he heard this.

He slowly turned toward Fed, his expression complicated and his gaze pained.

But one second later, the deputy chief priest turned his head away, avoiding the Scarlet Iris's pressing gaze.

Look at them, Thales.

The voice in Thales's heart gave a faint cold laugh:

They confront each other, attacking without end.

But have you discovered the essence of this matter?

After Zayen lost power, a terrifying power vacuum appeared in Jade City, right beneath your backside.

The second prince took a deep breath. Feeling the intentionally restrained but constantly sweeping gazes of everyone in the hall, he felt stifled beyond words. The seat beneath him was painfully uncomfortable, as if he sat on needles.

If it was temporarily held beneath your backside as steadily as Mount Sigh, that would be fine...

But once your backside shakes and you can no longer sit steadily...

Thales's face darkened, and he clenched his fist.

"In short, wounds can heal, losses can be compensated, the dead can rest in peace, and even the past can be forgotten. But if this city does not change, if this governance cannot be reformed, if this palace remains the same..."

The deputy chief priest took a deep breath.

"Then someone, no matter who, will certainly seize the chance to come back again and again, repeating today's tragedy!"

These words again stirred discussion.

"Who?"

Federico seized the flaw and spoke coldly.

"Say clearly: who will come back?"

"Young Master Federico, you said just now that this covenant would bring disaster to Jade City..."

The old priest turned toward his former student, ignoring the trap in his words.

"But if we ask our own hearts, has Jade City not already been experiencing and enduring, again and again, the disasters of 'having no such covenant' and 'everything remaining as before'?"

The discussions in the hall grew louder, especially among the audience in the middle and rear rows. Many felt the same and even began listing the misfortunes their own families had suffered during this disturbance.

"That is why I must stand forth and propose this covenant. It may be controversial and imperfect..."

The old priest looked at the relief above the council hall doors, "Duke Kossa Inquires of the People," his gaze distant.

"But it will clearly define the regency's rights and responsibilities, broadly grant supervisory power, and absorb the wisdom of many worthy people. It will place filthy behind-the-scenes struggle beneath the gaze of the public, place the bait that triggers contradiction in the hands of the South Bank people themselves, and restrict the consequences of power struggles to the council within Emerald Palace!"

Deputy Chief Priest Fable faced the public, his face full of pain.

"Everyone! This covenant is not for the temple's power! It is only so that after Jade City survives its present disaster, it will not walk the same road again.

"It is so that Jade City, which is about to fall into the way of the Youngest Son, may regain the ability to correct itself, open eyes for the people, speak for the weak... so that Emerald Palace does not fall into the hands of ambitious men and treacherous evils!"

As soon as this was said, many people's expressions changed together.

Amid the raging discussions, Fable returned to reality and looked seriously around.

Of course, it was also for the governance ideals and peaceful wishes of the previous generation's knowledgeable people, for the old Duke Lenster, who had been wise, for Judge Brennan, who had been just, and for the Ilshaga sisters, who had been benevolent.

In the middle and front rows, several older bureaucrats, lords, and merchant association representatives looked at the old priest before them with complicated emotions.

The deputy chief priest gritted his teeth and struggled to raise his volume.

"For Jade City, for everyone seated here, for the suffering public of this city, and even for His Highness Thales, who has been dragged into the disturbance and exhausted his mind, whether this is good or bad, which is light and which is heavy, is it not already clear?"

When his words fell, the hall was silent for a moment.

But after only a few seconds, everyone reacted, and the council hall erupted in a great commotion.

"Well said!"

"We have had enough!"

"My family's warehouse was burned to the ground!"

"And our business!"

Under Thales's solemn gaze, applause in the council hall surged like a tide, and there were even excited shouts from supporters.

"Sign the covenant!"

"Divide power, cough, I mean, clarify rights and responsibilities!"

"No more conspiracies! We want peace!"

"Honestly, I do not care who becomes duke or who becomes regent. I only want to feed my family properly!"

"Exactly! I do not even care who the f... king is, mmph! Stop covering my mouth, mmph..."

"For Jade City!"

"Deputy chief priest of one city wastes your talent, Mr. Fable. You should be promoted to chief priest of the entire South Bank parish!"

"You fool, Fable already retired from being chief priest of the South Bank parish! The parish chief priest's seat is empty now!"

"Ah? Why? Then... fine, then he should be high priest of the whole kingdom!"

"Your Highness the prince... you are a good person. Please follow the people's will!"

"Sign it! Sign it! Sign it!"

The cries in the hall grew more fervent, more excited, and more radical, making Thales's brows furrow tighter and tighter.

"His Majesty the king is wise. He will understand!"

"Yes, long live the king! Long live His Majesty Kessel!"

"If His Majesty does not understand..."

"How could His Majesty not understand..."

"Then there must be petty men in court! Treacherous ministers! They have blinded His Majesty!"

"Jade City is loyal to His Majesty, loyal to the prince, and loyal to the kingdom's bloodline!"

"Long live Prince Thales!"

"Long live the Duke of Star Lake!"

"Long live the Kingdom of the Stars!"

Feeling the fervor of the audience filling the hall, many people in the room, including members of the Star Lake Guard, changed expression together.

Thales only frowned tightly.

Amid the ardent cheers, sunlight shone from outside into the hall and was refracted and divided by the carefully carved side skylattice into columns of light.

They swept across the iris banner on the wall, swept across the noisy and chaotic attendees in the hall, and finally converged toward the most transcendent main seat, layering and crossing beside Thales.

Like, Thales lifted his head with difficulty, like countless blades and spears formed of light.

They stabbed into the council hall from all directions, stabbed into this exquisite and bewitching cage, pinning him tightly to the main seat.

Leaving him unable to move lightly for even a moment.

"Clearly, what the deputy chief priest placed in that covenant and handed to the prince is neither support nor promise, nor even concrete interest."

Viscount McMan listened with an ugly expression to the cries from the audience behind him and looked at Prince Thales on the seat, whose face was solemn, then said quietly:

"It is power."

Visible, tangible, real, immediately effective, and once announced, able to take root in people's hearts and stand equally against Renaissance Palace...

Power.

"But it is also disaster."

City Hall chief Briotti was deeply worried as he looked at the deputy chief priest who had become the crowd's focus.

"If this covenant is established... the prince will be pushed up the steps by the momentum."

"And Jade City will bind its own fate together with His Highness's future," the young judge, Mur Iboning, said softly from his left.

The bureaucrats in this corner all frowned together.

If this His Highness successfully succeeds and is crowned, that will be fine.

But if His Highness's succession changes, or even fails...

Will Jade City, which established a covenant with His Highness, also become rebels and traitors?

"Who is it?"

Finance Director Mylahovich felt the hall's fervent atmosphere and grew thoughtful.

To stir the mood to this extent, surpassing even the dispute between the brothers Lenster and Sona back then...

"Who exactly is so mad, so wild, that for the sake of gambling big, they would rather drag the whole of Jade City in as a stake..."

Mylahovich quietly looked at Thales on the dais and sighed, intentionally or unintentionally.

"Or... as burial goods?"

Under this question, several high officials all kept silent.

Who could profit from this?

Or who wanted to use this chance to strike?

"My lords, I forgot to tell you, my hearing is poor today..."

The high officials turned and found Chief Zelot in the corner take a deep breath and stare straight ahead.

"Everything you have said, I heard none of it."

The situation was not good.

Thales sat rigidly in his seat, expressionless as he faced the fervent shouts and excited discussions of the full hall, many of which repeatedly linked "long live" with his name.

Below him, Wya watched the hall's grand agitation with a bad expression.

The attendant officer sent glances toward the prince from time to time, and anxiously said something to Mallos beside him.

But facing every word from Wya, Mallos only remained unmoved, occasionally shaking his head coldly.

The Duke of Star Lake's heart sank.

How interesting, Thales.

He struggled to maintain a calm bearing amid the hall's cheers, but the voice in his heart sounded uncontrollably:

Do you feel it?

To be precise, this deputy chief priest, this old man, has proposed more than one covenant.

He has proposed two.

Sent in two directions.

Thales's heart moved.

He looked toward Deputy Chief Priest Fable. The latter stood calmly in the center of the hall, seeming unsurprised and even having energy to advise the fervent crowd and help the etiquette officers restore order.

One of the covenants is naturally for you, Thales, for Jade City's temporary regent.

He thought calmly in his heart:

Sign the covenant, and you gain Jade City's tolerance for mistakes: fires, assassinations, market disorder, all the chaos that happened under your governance in the past will be ignored, or at least no longer mentioned, returning to the prince a glorious resume as regent of the South Bank.

Sign the covenant, and you can also gain Jade City's loyalty: they will fully support you in handling the present chaos and even endure future chaos, ensuring that even if you never step outside Renaissance Palace, you can feel what it means to command as easily as moving your own arm, no longer having to beg here and plead there because of a pile of annoying accidents.

Sign the covenant, and Jade City can use the covenant's own outrageous treason to invisibly grant you the prestige and popular support to decide kingdom affairs with a single word, while incidentally emphasizing that your inheritance right cannot be violated, or stripped away.

Past, present, future.

Aftermath, assistance, power.

What a grand move, Thales, the voice in his heart exclaimed in admiration.

With this one covenant, almost every difficulty currently troubling you in Jade City is solved, and there is even an enormous bonus.

Except for your tiny little... father-son relationship?

Thinking of this, Thales's heart chilled.

Damn it.

He pressed his pocket. That ring was still full of bone spurs, painfully digging into him.

Thales raised his head and looked solemnly toward the surging audience, listening to their cheers and applause, looking at the expectation and urging in their eyes.

As for the second covenant, its target is the attendees present.

Or rather, the entire Jade City formed by stacking together the circles of interest, positions, and classes behind all of them.

Thales could not help frowning slightly.

Sign the covenant, and one can touch that committee or council. Its functions of supervising the regency, participating in political affairs, and later implied selection of the duke are enough to make most of Jade City's notable people, apart from the orthodox iris successor, rush toward it.

Sign the covenant, and there will be the prince's promise. Whether it is your timed resignation from the regency or the act of signing itself, it can give those who are eager but still hesitant enough confidence and backing, eliminating their worries. With Prince Thales's approval and permission, who would still dare say this is an offense from below against above?

Finally, the deputy chief priest even advanced by retreating, abandoning Sunset Temple's transcendent status and guarantor identity in this covenant, hinting that the Sunset Church, even the Twin Towers Longsword and the Four-Winged Basilisk, could join.

He also declared on the surface that governance would return to the iris bloodline, without damaging orthodox inheritance, directly dissolving the resistance of the traditional giants. If you do not believe it, look at Count Lasia, how arrogant and domineering he was earlier, and how obedient and upright he sits now.

Before his eyes, above his head, by his side.

Interests, guarantees, risk removal.

Everyone is happy, Thales, the voice in his heart clicked its tongue again and again.

Of course, there is also a tiny, slight, regretful fly in the ointment:

This interest covenant sent to Jade City, this carnival party held over the iris's corpse, or rather, this division of spoils after Zayen lost power...

Forgot to invite the king.

Eh, what a coincidence. Is that not exactly the same as the covenant for you?

It handles everything for you, except the father-son relationship.

Thinking of this, Thales wanted to painfully rub his forehead. No, he could not. The whole hall's cries were awaiting his response, and he could not make an expression or movement that might mislead them.

Mm...

Actually, it was understandable.

Renaissance Palace had such a large appetite. If it were invited to the banquet, the other guests at the table would likely only be able to drink soup.

What, you came over to slaughter my family's pig, cough, my family's master, yet tell me I only deserve soup?

How could that do? I might as well act myself and first slaughter my family's master, cough, my family's pig. Then the soup and meat will both be mine.

The voice in Thales's heart sighed.

No wonder, no wonder from beginning to end, in every word, this deputy chief priest had hinted at Emerald Palace's threat.

Two covenants, one for you, one for Jade City.

Sign it, and Jade City lowers its head and eats meat.

And you, Thales, soar into the sky.

As for how long and how high you can fly...

Thales sighed.

Unfortunately, what these two covenants omitted, Thales's relationship with the king and Renaissance Palace's intention toward Jade City, was the most crucial and fatal link here.

It could not be neglected, and could not be omitted.

Did this old priest Fable do it deliberately?

How sharp and intelligent would he have to be, how finely would he have to grasp Jade City's situation and the prince's position, to produce such a clever covenant, thorough in every detail?

And how sinister and cunning would he have to be, how well would he have to understand the relationship between Thales and the king, between Renaissance Palace and Emerald Palace, to produce such a proposal that omitted the most crucial person?

But unfortunately...

Unfortunately, to outsiders, he appeared aloof from worldly competition, and from the moment he arrived, he had promised to remove his own holy stole. He could even abandon Sunset Temple's interests in the blink of an eye.

Unfortunately, he also displayed such sorrow for heaven and pity for people, filled with sympathy and righteous indignation for the fate of the lower classes.

If one listened only to his speech, Cohen Karabeyan would probably be moved to tears and even send him his family's ancestral sword for charity.

He was practically like an advanced version of Zayen.

Thales slowly analyzed and chewed over the situation before him in his heart.

It was as if the atmosphere and situation in this hall had gradually become substantial, filling his appetite step by step.

Do not avoid it, Thales.

The voice in his heart quietly reminded him:

You still have to answer that crucial question...

Facing such a covenant that considers every side, saves effort and worry, and only leaves out your father.

Should you sign it?

Can you sign it?

Do you dare sign it?

Will you sign it?

Thales subconsciously clenched his fist, listening to the surging cries beside his ears.

Look before you, Thales. Facing this situation, these shouts...

If you refuse firmly and refuse to sign, then in the future, trying to gather people's hearts and stabilize Jade City will probably not be easy.

But if you compromise here and sign for the sake of present stability...

Thales sighed.

Leaving aside for now what the king will think when news returns to Renaissance Palace.

Prince Thales came to Jade City, first removed the duke, then under the "suggestions" of the city's various parties, signed a covenant as regent and "fiefed out" the great authority of Jade City and even the South Bank Territory, winning a wave of praise...

What would the entire kingdom think?

What would the border dukes, counts, and local lords think?

What would the soldiers, farmers, craftsmen, merchants, and people under their rule think?

What would Sunset Temples and churches, and knowledgeable people in other places, think?

The prince gripped the JC dagger at his waist, trying to recover a bit of steadiness.

Damn it...

How did this audience meeting come to this point?

Calm down, Thales.

The prince had no choice but to take a deep breath.

If there really was no other way, first find a way to delay. No matter what, he absolutely could not, under this situation...

Do not be anxious, and do not panic.

The voice in his heart calmly comforted him:

You can at least avoid it for a while longer.

Because at this very moment, in this hall, someone is more anxious and more panicked than you.

Thinking of this, Thales froze slightly.

"Then let us do it!"

At this moment, a nearly hysterical roar pierced through the noise and exploded fiercely in the council hall.

The agitated Wya jolted. Thanks to Mallos beside him pressing him down, he did not instinctively draw his sword.

Everyone froze.

"Just as the deputy chief priest said: we sign the covenant, establish the rules, execute them, and save Jade City!"

The discussion in the hall instantly stopped, and everyone turned their heads in confusion.

They saw Federico, his gaze icy, walking quickly to the center of the hall.

"Now! Immediately! At once!"

Everyone, including Thales, failed to react and only stared blankly at Fed, who had acted contrary to his usual pattern.

Only Deputy Chief Priest Fable frowned and immediately turned toward the prince.

"Your Highness..."

But before he could speak, Federico pointed outside the door and laughed coldly.

"And if Renaissance Palace does not allow it, if anyone in the kingdom refuses to accept it..."

He abruptly turned around.

"Then we will take this paper covenant, raise the righteous banner, imitate the precedent of Cork Cavendill resisting the Eight-Fingered King, gather the strength of the South Bank, and fight the troops of the whole kingdom. To hell with Renaissance Palace. Cavendills do not perish by enemies!"

Everyone, including the deputy chief priest, froze again.

What did he... say?

"Or one step further, why don't we simply imitate the Blade bandits of eighteen years ago, killing officials and rebelling, raising the blood flag? We might as well begin with me and use Cavendill blood as the sacrifice?"

Federico's eyes were wide with fury as he looked around. Everyone swept by his gaze instinctively turned their heads away.

Eighteen years ago?

Wya was shocked and instinctively looked toward Mallos, whose brows were tightly furrowed.

Killing officials and rebelling?

Raising the blood flag?

Was he talking about...

Many people barely reacted, and their expressions immediately changed.

"Federico, you..." Fable realized something.

"Yes!"

The Scarlet Iris did not stop walking, looking at everyone in his field of vision.

"Just like those Blade rebels back then. First kill village officials and clerks, then execute lordly masters, coerce the people, loot towns, burn, kill, plunder, attack Blade Tomb City, slaughter noble houses, and massacre Duke Tebak's entire family..."

"Enough! Fedi!"

The deputy chief priest angrily stopped him, but Federico paid no attention at all and continued speaking words shocking enough to kill.

"...then kill toward the whole country, kill all the way to Eternal Star City, kill into Renaissance Palace, slaughter the entire royal family, and finally cut off the king's head and announce to the world: we of Jade City have signed this covenant, and in the entire Stars, even the whole Western Continent, who the hell still dares refuse?"

Before his words had even finished, the listeners' faces had already turned ashen.

Good heavens...

What was happening?

Did he not want to live?

To one side, Wya listened with both shock and anger. He gritted his teeth and took a step forward, preparing to go deal with him, but Mallos stopped him.

But at this moment, when the whole hall was horrified and chaotic, Prince Thales on the seat abruptly swung his arm.

Thud!

A dagger wrapped in bandages was driven fiercely by the prince into the armrest of the ducal throne, making an ugly muffled sound.

The sound did not travel far, and the movement was not large.

Yet for some reason, the prince's action seemed to possess a strange magic. The instant he released the handle and let the blade tremble in the armrest, all the noise in the hall, including Federico's furious curses, came to an abrupt stop.

At that second, the entire council hall was silent enough to hear a pin drop.

Everyone's gazes could not help turning toward the highest place in the hall. They circled once around the dagger by the prince's hand, then lowered even faster, no one daring to look straight at him.

As for the Polaris himself, he said nothing.

He only sat calmly in his seat and coldly watched every person in the hall who had lowered their heads.

In those few seconds, an indescribable pressure seemed to exist in the void, pressing down on everyone in the hall so tightly that they could not speak, could not raise their heads, and had to breathe carefully.

Damn it, after all that fuss, this move is still the useful one.

On the ducal throne, Thales lightly bit the tip of his tongue and forced himself to keep his face taut, making no unnecessary expression.

Under this deathly silence and oppression, Federico took a deep breath.

He slowly stepped back before the main seat and knelt on one knee to Thales.

Mallos quietly reached out and pulled back Wya, who had already stepped out and was now frozen in place.

"My fault, Your Highness. I lost decorum before the court, spoke recklessly, and touched upon the kingdom's most painful wound," Federico lowered his head to its lowest point. "I am willing to accept punishment."

Clever.

Mallos coldly watched Federico kneeling on the ground.

Truly clever.

And truly mad.

Toward faraway Blade Fief, everyone was numb and indifferent.

So he simply seized Blade Fief, pulled it hard, and smashed it bloody before everyone's eyes.

In this way...

Mallos looked at the audience in the hall, which had just been cheering and jeering but now did not dare breathe loudly, and narrowed his eyes.

Thales was silent for a while before lowering his gaze and looking down at the Scarlet Iris.

Do you feel it, Thales?

He looked at Federico with lowered head, and the voice in his heart was alert and grave:

From that man's performance just now, beyond quick wit, sharpness, experience, and ruthlessness...

Do you feel that madness and radicalism, and that vigorous ambition?

Every sentence pushes a new chip onto the gambling table. Every action controls the situation with perfect timing.

Federico, his madness is real.

But his ambition is even more real than his madness.

Only now... as a son of Jadestar carrying a blood feud, will you help him?

Thales took a deep breath. Only then did he grip the inverted dagger again and try to pull it out. Eh?

The second prince's forearm trembled slightly.

The dagger remained deeply stuck in the wood, not moving at all.

It was stuck.

Damn it, was the South Bank duke's chair... this good quality?

How much did one cost?

Some other day, have Star Lake Castle's carpenters also...

He was just preparing to borrow the power of the Sin of Hell's River when Wya below cast him a puzzled look.

Thales breathed out, pretended to tap the handle of the JC dagger, then calmly let go of it.

"The Bloody Years are indeed a pain difficult to speak of."

Thales spoke slowly.

"But precisely because of this, we must face the past squarely and remember the scars, not avoid mentioning them simply because we fear pain or violate taboos."

The instant Thales spoke and broke the silence, everyone in the hall seemed to receive a signal and let out breaths of relief.

The whispers remained, but no one dared shout as they had earlier.

Did they not see that dagger still stuck in the ducal throne?

Borrowing the strength of numbers to frankly admonish him for Jade City's future still had room to turn.

But if they touched the royal family's taboo of the Bloody Years, and deep blood hatred...

Many people thought of this and could not help looking toward Federico, who was kneeling with his head lowered.

No wonder this man's nickname was "Scarlet Iris."

He truly was not afraid of splashing blood.

"Your Highness sees clearly."

Federico did not raise his head and spoke quietly.

"But speaking of Mr. Deputy Chief Priest's covenant, I must mention one matter."

Deputy Chief Priest Fable abruptly turned and stared fixedly at his former student.

"To gather such great momentum and create such a grand scene, offending the royal family and stealing power from the iris... sir, there must be someone supporting you from behind, correct?"

Federico slowly raised his head, his gaze dark and cold.

"I guess that in this hall, there are your accomplices, co-conspirators, and like-minded fellows?"

The deputy chief priest's expression changed.

Thales did not speak. He merely supported himself with his left arm with a cold expression and leaned to one side in an uncomfortable posture, so his right elbow could avoid the dagger blade in the armrest.

"Accomplices?"

The old priest seemed to laugh from anger. He snorted coldly.

"Every word and action of mine today comes from my own heart and is borne by me alone!"

"It does not matter if you refuse to say," Federico shook his head, unconcerned. "But if your wishes are to be fulfilled and His Highness is to sign this covenant... someone must step forward to sign, correct?"

"I said, Sunset Temple can guarantee..."

"Not enough!"

Federico suddenly stood and shouted violently.

He stared straight at Fable with wide eyes.

"This covenant is so important that it can even shake the kingdom. The signatures beneath it must include several names with sufficient weight, correct? You cannot simply write 'Jade City,' can you?"

Without waiting for an answer, Fed turned again and looked at the attendees filling the hall.

"And everyone... where are the people who cheered just now? The people who applauded? The people who supported the deputy chief priest petitioning on behalf of the people?"

He gritted his teeth. Wherever his gaze passed, everyone turned away to avoid it.

"Where are the people who, for Jade City, wanted to borrow the momentum and place His Highness the prince onto a furnace, forcing him to sign? Stand out!"

Federico's roar echoed through the hall.

"It is time to sign your names!"

His voice was already hoarse, but in everyone's ears, it made their hearts tremble.

"Federico!"

Deputy Chief Priest Fable was both shocked and furious.

"You, what are you trying to do?"

"What am I trying to do?"

Federico sneered.

"Sir, you spoke of this covenant as so great. Then we must let everyone, let the entire kingdom, see who exactly first approved and supported it, correct?"

Everyone present stiffened.

Support.

Support what?

Support that covenant?

Or...

Support, after the covenant is signed and the consequences arrive... raising the righteous banner and killing into Renaissance Palace?

Cavendill... Jade City does not perish by enemies?

Even if it was not that bad...

After Federico had said those outrageous words earlier...

Who knew what the matter here would become once it spread outside, throughout the kingdom, especially to Renaissance Palace?

Ah Gou, I heard you signed some declaration saying you would lead the South Bank people to fight for rights, kill into Renaissance Palace, snatch the king's wife, and cut off his head?

Eh, I am not talking nonsense. I heard it from Ah Mao. He saw your signature with his own eyes. Eh, just tell me whether you signed it or not! Stop quibbling. Even that Northlander neighbor of mine knows and said he will sponsor you with an axe!

Thinking of this, many people who had been eager to try silently lowered their heads and turned a deaf ear to Federico's words.

Even if someone could not help wanting to speak, when they raised their heads and saw Prince Thales's cold face and the inconspicuous dagger on his seat, their hearts chilled and they instinctively dismissed the thought.

"Perfect. This will also let everyone see exactly who cares for Jade City and has run around both openly and secretly for this paper covenant!"

Federico clearly did not intend to let everyone off.

"Who wants to enter that committee, supervise the regency, and climb to a higher level?"

He walked past rows of seats, adding weight sentence by sentence before the ashen-faced audience.

"And who wants to take up the iris's heavy burden and share the Jadestar royal family's divinely granted authority?"

His steps paused. He stood before the first row, turned, and looked at the public.

"What, after doing such a great matter, in the end you do not even dare reveal your identity or leave your name?"

The expressions of the major figures in the first few rows changed several times, while the guests in the middle rows lowered their heads one after another. Only the people in the rear rows and corners whispered and argued.

Yet no one dared speak.

Much less refute.

"By the Sunset above, Your Highness!"

Deputy Chief Priest Fable, who had been dumbstruck for a time, finally could not bear it. He turned to Thales and protested angrily.

"Federico's words and actions are wild, absurd, and deranged. Please have the royal guards step forward and expel him from this hall, to restore the dignity of the meeting!"

Wya was shocked when he heard this, but Mallos shook his head at him.

Thales frowned as he looked at the wild Fed and the indignant deputy chief priest. He nodded and said solemnly:

"Fed, you have made enough trouble."

Federico paused.

"At your command, Your Highness."

He turned coldly.

"Since His Highness has shown grace, then forget it. Those who want to sign need not stand out anymore."

Everyone let out breaths of relief.

But the next second, Fed's gaze sharpened, and his tone suddenly changed.

"Then what about public deliberation and nomination? Whom do you recommend to sign? Anyone may be recommended!"

As soon as these words came out, many people's expressions changed slightly.

Some could not help looking around, searching for enemies or rivals with whom they had poor relations.

Federico sneered again and again.

"Or should we simply give everyone a sheet of paper and let each write down who they think should sign? Rest assured, I will not look, nor will I guess the handwriting. Let His Highness's royal guards read them out publicly..."

Everyone stiffened again.

The old priest trembled with anger.

"You..."

"This is not class. Surely you cannot expect me to call names one by one?"

Federico sneered and stepped forward, casually pointing at the nearest person in the front row.

"You, Aitchison Lasia, are you willing to sign? Sign first?"

"What?"

The man he pointed to, the old count of the Four-Winged Basilisk family, faced everyone's gaze, especially Prince Thales's gaze from the seat, and for a moment his mind was thrown into chaos and his cheek twitched.

"Me, me? Well, as the saying goes, 'the marsh basilisk hides killing intent'..."

But Federico directly interrupted him with pressing questions.

"So does the Lasia family support this covenant? Do you want His Highness to sign? Are you the deputy chief priest's accomplice..."

Count Lasia's face was pale, but before he could answer, someone beside him abruptly stood.

Bang!

With a muffled sound, Federico was struck fiercely in the face and fell to the ground amid cries of surprise.

"Get lost, Fed"

Count Lasia's eldest son spoke coldly and withdrew his fist.

"My apologies, Your Highness, everyone."

Under many surprised gazes, including Thales's, the Basilisk heir raised a hand in apology to the guards rushing over, asked them to return to their positions, and only then leisurely sat back down.

Count Lasia was dumbstruck the whole time. He stared blankly at his own son until the latter frowned and turned his head. Only then did the old count hurry to turn back. "If not because your old father cared about old friendship and restrained my peerless martial skill, how would it have been your turn to shine?"

To the side, the Karabeyan sisters watched the Basilisk heir's performance and hurriedly raised their fans. "The neighbor's son has just grown up." "One fine husband less in the world." They anxiously whispered and discussed, but their brows and eyes carried vigilance and solemnity.

Federico, who had been punched, climbed up from the ground with difficulty.

He touched the blood at the corner of his mouth. Not only was he not angry, he laughed loudly.

"Very good, Eddie. Now we are even."

Fed looked at Count Lasia and his son and scoffed.

"I suppose your family will not be signing?"

"Federico! Fedi! Enough!"

The old priest's heartbroken voice rang out, interrupting Federico and dispelling everyone's fear that he would "call names one by one."

"This is Jade City. This is your and your father's hometown!"

Federico shook when he heard this.

"No, you are the ones who have had enough!"

As if he had suppressed it for too long, Fed abruptly turned back, his eyes wide with anger as he pointed toward the attendees.

"Look at you all. You are unwilling to lower your heads, but do not dare pick up a blade and overturn the table. Petty, greedy, looking ahead and behind, only willing to scheme and bargain in gutters, acting like ghosts..."

This is my hometown...

Jade City.

Federico gritted his teeth, his voice full of hatred.

"Yes, when my father was wronged and I wanted justice, you, all of you, were exactly like this, even though he had shown you such deep kindness!"

Thales noticed that in the direction he pointed, several people could not help lowering their heads.

"Now I have returned, and Zayen has stepped down, yet you are still this same useless shape."

Federico looked around once, his laughter bleak.

Damned Jade City.

Damned South Bank people.

Damned... everyone.

They deserved to burn to ashes together with the old era.

And become nourishment for the new age.